The U.S Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications for its 2026 Wetland Program Development Grants Region 9.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/13/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 5 Years
Details:
Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) assist state, Tribal, U.S. territory (Insular Areas), local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities in developing or refining state, Tribal, U.S. territory or local programs that protect, manage and restore wetlands.
The goals of the EPA’s wetland program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition. In pursuing these goals, as indicated in Assistance Listing 66.461, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.
Tracks
- WPPs (state, Tribal or territory applicants only)
- Non-WPP Applications (states, Tribes, U.S. territories, local government, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and colleges and universities that are an agency of a state)
Funding Information
The amount of funding is expected to be between $3,248,000 to $3,456,000.
Grant Period
Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have two to four years but not more than five year project period.
Eligibility Criteria
Only these types of organizations may apply:
- Indian Tribes. (Federally Recognized)
- States (including U.S. territories)
- Local Governments.
- Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). Colleges and Universities that are agencies of a state government (Colleges and Universities must include documentation showing that they are chartered as a part of a state government in their proposals)
- Interstate agencies.
- Intertribal consortia. (the Intertribal Consortium must demonstrate that all members meet the eligibility requirements of the grant and authorize the Consortium to apply).
- Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible:
- Applications must include activities taking place within Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northan Mariana Islands and Tribal lands located within those states. Inter-jurisdictional watershed projects must primarily be conducted in EPA Region 9.
- All applications submitted under this NOFO, regardless of track, must be for projects that develop or refine state, Tribal, U.S. territory or local government wetland programs. All applicants must demonstrate in their application how the proposed project will develop or refine a state, Tribal, U.S. territory or local government wetland program according to the requirements of the track the application falls under. The two tracks are described below and further in Section 3.A: Track Concept.
- Track One: WPP Applicants must demonstrate 1) how they will develop/update a Wetland Program Plan, or 2) reference one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.
- Track Two: Non-WPP Applicants must demonstrate 1) which objectives and associated action(s) from their application is developing or refining, or 2) if the applicant is an interstate agency or intertribal consortia, by referencing one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.
- Applications must not request more than $500,000.
- Applicants may submit more than one application under this announcement under the applicable tracks. Each application must be separately submitted and be for a different project. Applications will be evaluated separately.
- In addition, state, Tribal and U.S. territorial government applicants may submit separate applications for different projects under Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP. Local governments, interstate organization and intertribal consortia can only apply under Track Two: Non-WPP.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
